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Thursday, December 10, 2009

MEETING UP

It was probably like a blind date. I can't say because I had never been on one before. But I imagine that that was how one would feel. Excited, anxious, anticipating, 'imagining', and somewhat unsure. I felt quite silly too. For being excited, anxious, anticipating, 'imagining', and somewhat unsure.

I turned and saw Terri, from Hunger Hunger, an authority on Chinese cooking, stride up to me with a big smile on her face while I had my mobile still glued to my ear. It was all I could do to smile broadly back. I can't quite recall exactly what went through my mind at the time but I knew almost at once what went through Terri's.

"I thought you would be fat!" she beamed and we laughed while I made a mental note to check my blog for possible mis-impressions.

We hugged. She was as lovely as I had imagined her to be because I had seen some photos of her on her blog. Only very much prettier. But as vivacious in person as in writing.

And that was how we met, Terri and I, after almost a year of commenting on each other's blogs as one foodie to another and with some email exchanges in between. And when she arrived in KL, a few calls, some dialing of wrong numbers on my part and some texting we finally met in person. Terri was on transit on her way back to Sabah, The Land Below the Wind, in East Malaysia, after a holiday in Guilin, China.

Without further ado Terri opened up a plastic bag exposing some bright little kumquats, some gingko nuts, a much pined-for-by-me coconut shredder from the Philippines and finally, very unexpectedly, a gorgeous hand-painted miniature glass bottle from China.

We stood in the middle of the hotel lobby, our heads together, leaning over the circumference of a huge marble topped table, Terri giving me instructions on how to cook the gingko nuts and then pointing out the features of the exquisite hand-painted miniature and I, with pleasure, soaking it all in. She felt like an old friend whom I have not met in years.

Then I met her lovely family, a husband, 2 sons and a beautiful daughter and a family friend who was holidaying with them. I felt like I knew them so well because she talks constantly of her family in her blog with a deep and exasperating love that only mothers can understand.

We sat and talked for close to an hour. About our children, our blogging, our photography, our families, our mothers...... woman talk ...... I just wished we had had more time for some coffee and cake. And with each other.

Finally I felt that I couldn't keep her any longer. I knew her family were waiting to have her back. So we parted. Our voices trailing off with blogger chatter until finally I headed towards the towering hotel doors and she towards her family. A final wave and it was over.

For me, it was a great time. I hope we meet again. Thank you Terri for your friendship and warmth. :)

I love to meet people I've been reading for a long time ... It's always a very good experience and we've got, each time, so many things to talk about ... In the south of France, we have a group of blog-addicts called the "picholines" (green olives from Provence) and we gather quite often ! We always have a very good time together !Have a nice day !Hélène

fat???? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL...i think you downgrade yourself in your writings (something that sounds so familiar now LOL)..I think it's all that butt-plucking off the chair and being forced to workout by daddy LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL...

I enjoyed your story today. Isn't it amazing at how connections can be made, both onscreen and offscreen as a result of blogging. I have yet to meet a fellow blogger however I am very open to doing so. I love Helene's comment where it appears she has a blogger group going. I guess it is all validation that we appreciate each other for the exchange of stories and the sharing of recipes. Thanks for sharing.

TMKW, TQ, yes its so fun to exchange stories or impressions. and recipes too. :) yes how wonderful to have a group meet once in a while! mayb we'll meet one day too. one can never know.the internet is amazing.

Hey, Zurin! This is such a great post ... with such heart-warming moments! It's amazing how blogging can bring people alike from all over the world together! It's become a virtual brain & social network!

How fun! p.s. Do you know that hand-painted miniature glass bottle a snuff bottle, which is used to store the powdery tabacco, is? It's called "鼻烟壶-bi yan hu". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snuff_bottle

How wonderful Zurin! It is funny that sometimes we feel like we actually know fellow bloggers because of the warmth, kindness and support we give each other...and the snippets of each others lives we read about.

My daughter has some gingko nuts for me...please let us know how you prepare them :-)

what a nice post, made me almost tear again! after our chat, i walked to gardens mall n i think i was smiling to myself all the time. kinda like a date haha! you are such an elegant n pretty lady n so much younger than i thought u'd be, n i am really happy we hit if off just like tt!it is wonderful meeting bloggers of the same interest n i am so blessed to know so many great people! yes, i wish we could've had coffee n cake smwhere n had more time to get to know each other. i'm sure i'll see you again soon, n in the meantime we keep in touch ok!

Zurin, I really enjoyed reading about your meeting. It's amazing how blogging can enrich your life. Mine has certainly changed since I stared. Your pictures are beautiful. I am lusting for your coconut grater! The bottle is gorgeous too! Pam

LOL It took me a while to figure it out myself. I went to gayle's blog and seeing that she's a ballet dancer...I put 2 and 2 together! so i guessed that you must have commented thru her blog...Gee.. I cld be a detective. ...lol...

Marysol,fluffy sounds adorable...lolIts amazing how we get to know each other simply thru blogging....its wonderful and I feel I know you so well too...:)))n I don't ever envision u as fluffy either!:)